Chapter 31: 31

“…To escape from this castle.”

I answered bluntly. It was already the second time I told Michael the truth I had been hiding. 

It was ironic that the person whom I shared the secret with happened to be this guy.

“You…”

Michael shrugged his shoulders like a vigilant cat.

I put my face close to his and continued talking.

“Now that it becomes like this, don’t pretend you don’t know. Michael, you and the Duke must have known my thoughts.”

There was no way Alan and Michael wouldn’t have considered the possibility of me escaping.

Even if I ran, I would be like a flea, so they wouldn’t have left me alone.  

If I hadn’t recovered the memories of my previous life, I’d be dead right away.

“I can’t tell you the details yet… but with Benimus, we can escape safely.”

“Didn’t you think I’d tell my father and get rid of that gladiator?”

Michael snapped coldly. 

I suppressed my trembling heart and spoke as confidently as possible.

“Ah, no way. There’s no way the duke would harm the child I care about just believing what you, the kidnapper’s son, said.”

Michael shut his mouth. 

At that moment I was sure. So far, my use value was higher than that of Michael.

“I am not trying to intimidate you. Michael, you know the byways of this castle well. That means you’ve been on the run before.”

I silenced my voice as if to appease him and pulled the hem of Michael’s robe. He didn’t resist.

“Do you know how to sneak out of the castle?”

This kid must have been scared just like me.

The fear of not knowing when he would die was known only to those who have experienced it.

Realizing that he couldn’t escape, he might have instead wanted to be accepted into House Bauner.

“If you help me, I will find a way to get you out.”

“…I’m not running away.”

Michael leaned back. The hem of his robe slid out of my hand.

“You’re going to live for the Bauner family, and you need me here.”

“Do whatever you want, because you are free to choose.”

I grabbed Michael’s hands as he stepped down.

“But there is a difference between not having a chance at all and staying on your own.”

“Let go.” 

“You know what I mean. Because you were desperate to survive here…”

“Let go of me…!”

“You were scared.”

Michael, who was about to shake my hand off, stopped and stood, slumped, like a broken puppet.

Taking advantage of that gap, I squeezed the hand with the ring even stronger.

“I need you.” 

I hated the boy in front of me.

How could I like a kid who tried to turn me into an idiot?

But I needed this child. That was an undeniable fact.

Michael sighed for a while, then lowered his head and mumbled.

“…You put drugs in me all the time, and now you want me to come and help you?”

‘Shameless! That was because you poisoned me first!’ I wanted to beat him up while shouting like that… but I barely held back.

“Yeah.”

I made eye contact with Michael. 

“It’s something only you can do.”

Michael rolled his eyes anxiously, and it was the first time he had made such an expression.

It was as if the shell that had been tightly wrapped around the boy was shattered.

“…When I heard that Lilietta was back…”

Michael muttered softly as if only he could hear it.

“I thought I’d finally be recognized as a member of House Bauner. Because I was left like this until a day came when I was no longer worth using.” 

The boy clenched his teeth tightly. Lost anger lingered in his red eyes like embers.

“But you were a fake.”

Could this be the reason why Michael was against me from the beginning?

Unbeknownst to me, I shattered his hopes.

“The reason why my father didn’t kill me is just… because you aren’t his real daughter. That was all.”

I didn’t want to apologize because I had been beaten by Michael, and I didn’t even talk to him. 

Now I had to convince him somehow.

“If you help me.”

I took Michael’s hand again. The 11-year-old boy’s hands were already covered with scars.

“I’ll bring a pomegranate as a gift when I visit tomorrow. It’ll be cut well.” 

Michael said grumpily while smacking his mouth like a carp.

“Do you think I’m a baby who falls for food?”

***

The next morning, I knocked on Alan’s office, repeating the strategy Michael had told me.

“Dad, it’s Lily.” 

There was no answer.

‘Did he already go out?’

As I turned around, the door opened and my feet floated in the air.

“Aaahh!”

“Lily.”

Alan, who came directly to meet me, hugged me brightly.

“You can come in without knocking.” 

Over his broad shoulders, I could see stunned servants.

After all, how flustered they must be to see the duke open the door himself, instead of asking the servant. 

“What happened?”

“I, I just… I miss dad.”

I wrapped my arms around Alan’s neck tightly.

He gently bented his eyes, as if he was feeling better at once.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to play often these days.”

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Alan went back to his office chair and sat me on his firm thighs.

Now it felt more natural here than just sitting on a chair.

“It’s okay. Dad is busy preparing for the carnival.”

“You’re really nice.”

Alan stroked my hair as if I had accomplished something great.

He used to praise me for nothing.

“I’m glad you came. We were discussing which band to bring to the carnival.”

“Are you going to bring them into the castle?”

“Yeah, I think it’s safer here than going out.”

There was certainty in Alan’s voice.

“We’re going to set up a street stall in the garden. You don’t have to pay, you can ask for anything and I’ll give it to you. We will be the only onlookers, so it will be easy to go to. It is a festival only for you.”

No, it’s not a festival, it’s a set…

Alan didn’t seem to know what was wrong.

“But I was worried about what kind of food to serve at the stall. I told Hugo to investigate, and he said most of the food sold on the street is very dangerous.”

What did you ask the archmage to do? 

“Things that look particularly dangerous are taken care of by the street vendors. It’s okay, right?”

“Uh… which are you taking away?”

“Nike.”

Nike, who was standing like a shadow, rushed into the separate room and pulled out a movable tray.

The luxurious plates were stacked layer by layer, but they were all covered with round lids, so I couldn’t tell what was inside.

Nike placed the first plate on a silver tray and said solemnly.

“First object to be expelled. Food glued onto a pointed awl that could even kill a person and then coated with a bloody spice.”

Was there any street food that was that scary?

Soon after, the lid opened and a snack appeared.

I was at a loss for words at the horror.

“It’s chicken skewers.”

It looked incredibly delicious. You’re not going to sell it? 

It was incomprehensible to my common sense.

“Next, the second object to be expelled.”

Nike put the lid back on and brought the next plate forward.

Ahh… my chicken skewers…

“It is so bulky that it obscures the view, and when it melts, it becomes sticky and hard. A dangerous situation may occur if the airway hardens.”

What? I’m scared. What’s that?

“It’s cotton candy.”

My mind was dizzy. 

I didn’t know if it was because of the escape, or because I was dehydrated because my saliva was dripping from seeing the cotton candy that tasted sweet just by looking at it.

“Third subject to be expelled. It was developed by a nomadic people in the south, and its shape is too strong to be presented to the delicate princess.”

If I watched further, I thought I wouldn’t be able to stand it and would fall for the food, so I tried to turn my eyes to Alan.

“Dad, I have something to tell you.”

“It’s a sundae.”

“Nike, get out of here.”

Wait a minute, leave the sundae behind! 

My earnest inner cry did not reach him. The sundae left, and Alan and I were the only ones left in the office.

“Why, Lily?” 

Alan gently stroked my hair, which had been braided into two braids. 

I, who was in deep despair, came to my senses.

Yeah, if I wanted to eat those snacks now, I had to persuade Alan. The purpose had changed. Anyway…

“You said I can’t go directly to the carnival.”

“That’s right. Didn’t you just see that? There are so many dangerous foods.”

“Can’t you think about it again.

“Lily…”

“I mean, Benimus, I didn’t choose him out of pity.”

Alan kept his mouth shut as if to let me continue talking.

I gulped, swallowed dry saliva, and recited the prepared lines.

“There is another reason why I begged you to go to the gladiator fight.”

“Reason?”

“That is…”

I took a deep breath and raised my head.

As I practiced countless times last night, my eyes lit up with twinkling lights.

It’s called the puppy face that begs for snacks. Just in time, the location is perfect. Dogs are definitely precious when they are looked down on from above.

“I want to be friends with Benimus…!” 

Alan, who was stroking my hair as if possessed, frowned later.

“Friend.”

As expected, Alan showed signs of displeasure.

“There are a lot of children that you can make friends with, so why does it have to be him?”

‘Actually, this world is a fiction, and he is the main character. I’m going to ask for help when I run away from you later!’ …Of course I couldn’t say that.

I hid my thoughts and spoke carefully.

“Because he was the first person of my age that I’ve seen since I came home… I’ve wanted to play with him since the first time I saw him.”

“…Well, you must also need a friend your age. That’s something I can’t fill.”

Alan shrugged and pondered my words.

He didn’t make such a serious face even at the carnival committee or explaining the emperor’s schedule…

“But, Lily, how about having another person as a friend? I’m sure there’ll be higher-ranking, better-quality friends your age to talk to.”

What do you mean better-quality friends? It was a tone that said that a friend that could be attached to me could also be a toy.

“Dad, I like that kid. This is also my first doll, so I like it.”

I hugged the red cabbage head doll from the room.

It was the perfect prop for this moment. 

Alan was speechless for a moment and put his hand on my head.

“…Okay. I have no choice but to like it.”

“Are you giving me permission? Going out of the castle.”

Alan thought for a long time before answering.

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